‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6 Spoilers: Where Has Littlefinger Been? A Recap Of Petyr Baelish Storyline Before Episode 4

Petyr Baelish, also known as Littlefinger, is finally back on “Game of Thrones”! The slippery character has been missing in action since Season 6 premiered on HBO, but he’ll make his triumphant return in episode 4 Sunday night.

So, where has Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) been all this time? We’re briefly recapping where we last saw the Lord Protector of the Vale.

Littlefinger is a master of manipulation. After sneaking Sansa (Sophie Turner) out of King’s Landing, he brought her to the Vale, where he believed she’d be protected by her mother’s sister. However, a turn of events, as well as jealousy, almost cost Sansa her life. With Lady Lysa (Kate Dickie) dead, at Littlefinger’s hand, he sent her son, Lord Robin Arryn (Lino Facioli) to train with Lord Yohn Royce (Rupert Vansittart). Littlefinger then embarked with Sansa to a place where she would finally be safe from the Lannisters. What he didn’t tell Sansa was that he was taking her back to Winterfell, which had fallen into the hands of the Boltons after the death of her brother, Robb Stark (Richard Madden). Needless to say, she was not happy when he revealed his plan to have her wed Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon). However, Littlefinger promised her that it was the only way to exact revenge for the death of her family.

Although Littlefinger made it seem as if he were doing the Boltons a favor by giving them Sansa, what they didn’t know was that he was planning on Stannis’ (Stephen Dillane) army defeating them. His thinking was that Stannis and his men, who were at Castle Black, would overthrow the Boltons at Winterfell and name Sansa the Wardeness of the North.

Littlefinger left Sansa at Winterfell so he could return to King’s Landing at Cersei’s (Lena Headey) request. Sansa was forced to stay with Ramsay, who physically violated her and tormented her about the death of her family members. Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Littlefinger faced Cersei and revealed yet another plan. Despite telling Sansa that she’d be named Wardeness of the North after Stannis took control of Winterfell, Littlefinger told Cersei that he wanted to lead the knights of the Vale to defeat the winner of the battle between the Boltons and Stannis. In exchange, he wanted the title of Warden of the North. Believing that the Boltons betrayed her, Cersei agreed to Littlefinger’s plan.

When viewers last saw Littlefinger he had met with Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), who threatened to reveal his role in Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) death if House Tyrell fell.

Littlefinger is not mentioned in the synopsis for episode 4, titled “Book of the Stranger,” but he is featured in the promo video.

“Sansa has escaped Winterfell,” he tells Robin in a clip from the trailer. “She won’t be safe with the Boltons after her.”

So, does that mean that Littlefinger truly wants to help Sansa? Or does he have something else up his sleeve? “Game of Thrones” fans will have to watch episode 4 when it airs on HBO Sunday, May 15, at 9 p.m. EDT.